Par 5 Scoring Average
Par 5 scoring average is the average number of strokes a golfer takes on par-5 holes across a set of rounds. Because par on these holes is five, any average below 5.0 means a player is beating par on them.
What is a par 5 scoring average?
A par 5 is a long hole, usually over 450 yards, that a skilled golfer is expected to complete in five strokes. Par 5 scoring average takes every par-5 hole a golfer plays over a stretch of rounds and works out the mean score on those holes alone. It answers a simple question: on the longest holes on the course, how many shots does this player typically need?
The number carries weight because par 5s are where scores swing most. They give strong players the clearest birdie and eagle chances, yet they punish loose play with big numbers for everyone else. The PGA Tour tracks par 5 scoring average as an official statistic in its scoring category, alongside par 3 and par 4 versions, so fans and analysts can see who handles each type of hole best. Amateurs can measure the same thing from their own scorecards.
How par 5 scoring average is calculated
The math is straightforward. Add up every stroke taken on par-5 holes across the rounds being measured, then divide by the number of par 5s played. A golfer who plays ten par 5s and takes 58 shots on them has a par 5 scoring average of 5.8.
Most tournament courses set up with four par 5s, so a professional playing four rounds faces sixteen of them in a single event. Season-long averages draw on far more, which is what makes them reliable. The dividing line is five: below 5.0 means a player is under par on those holes on average, and above 5.0 means over par.
What counts as a good par 5 scoring average?
For amateurs, the honest answer sits higher than most golfers expect. According to 2026 Shot Scope data drawn from measured rounds of more than 100,000 golfers and reported by Golf Monthly, the average amateur scores 5.8 on par 5s. Rounded up, that is a bogey.
The figure shifts sharply with ability. Here is how average par 5 scores break down by handicap:
| Handicap | Average par 5 score |
| Scratch (0) | 4.8 |
| 5 | 5.3 |
| 10 | 5.6 |
| 15 | 6.0 |
| 20 | 6.3 |
| 25 | 7.0 |
On the professional side, the bar is far lower. The PGA Tour’s leading par-5 scorers post averages around 4.3 to 4.5, which means they play these holes better than half a stroke under par. Core Sports Betting rates a tour average near 4.42 as exceptional and one drifting toward 4.80 as a sign a player is leaving birdies out on the course.
Par 5 scoring average vs par 3 and par 4 scoring average
The same idea applies to every hole type, and comparing the three shows a golfer where their strokes go. The Shot Scope data reveals a clear pattern for the average amateur:
| Hole type | Average amateur score | Strokes over par |
| Par 3 | 3.7 | 0.7 |
| Par 4 | 4.9 | 0.9 |
| Par 5 | 5.8 | 0.8 |
Par 5s stand out for one reason: they show the widest gap between low and high handicaps. Shot Scope measured 2.22 shots separating a scratch golfer from a 25-handicap on par 5s, more than on any other hole type. A scratch player treats the par 5 as the easiest hole on the card, while a high-handicap golfer often finds it the hardest. That flip, from easiest hole to hardest, is unique to par 5s.
Why par 5 scoring averages differ so much
Length explains most of it. A par 5 rewards distance in a way shorter holes cannot, because a long hitter can reach the green in two shots and set up a putt for eagle or an easy birdie. Players without that distance need three good shots just to reach the same point, and every extra shot is another chance for something to go wrong.
That is why par 5 scoring separates golfers so cleanly. Strong players see opportunity and pick up ground on the field. Higher handicaps face the most trouble, because the extra length gives their mistakes room to compound. Distance is the difference. It helps a struggling golfer more here than on any other hole.
Related Golf Terms
- Par 3 scoring average — A player’s average score on par-3 holes.
- Outward nine — The first nine holes of a round, holes one through nine.
- Net eagle — A score of eagle after handicap strokes are applied.
- Inward nine — The second nine holes of a round, holes ten through eighteen.
- Birdie streak — A run of consecutive birdies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a par 5 scoring average below 5 good?
Yes. Par on these holes is five, so any average under 5.0 means a golfer is beating par on them across their rounds. Only low-handicap amateurs and professionals tend to manage it.
What is the average score on a par 5 for a typical golfer?
Around 5.8, according to 2026 Shot Scope data. That works out to roughly a bogey once rounded, in line with how the average amateur scores across the whole course.
What is a good par 5 score for a beginner?
A bogey six is a solid result for a newer player, and a par five is a genuine achievement. Beginners often score seven or higher on par 5s, so keeping the hole to a single mistake counts as real progress.
What is the lowest possible score on a par 5?
A hole-in-one on a par 5, called a condor, is the lowest and one of the rarest feats in golf. More realistically, two shots make an albatross, and three make an eagle.
Do par 5s have the best birdie chances?
For strong players, yes. Reaching the green in two, or laying up to a short wedge, gives skilled golfers more birdie and eagle looks on par 5s than on any other hole type.
Sources
- Golf Monthly. “What Is The Average Amateur Score On A Par 3, Par 4 And Par 5?” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/average-amateur-golfer-score-par-3-par-4-par-5 - Shot Scope. “Par 3, Par 4 and Par 5 Average Scores.” Accessed August 2026.
https://shotscope.com/blog/practice-green/stats-and-data/par-3-par-4-and-par-5-average-score/ - PGA Tour. “Par 5 Scoring Average, Scoring Category Stats.” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.pgatour.com/stats/scoring - Core Sports Betting. “How to Use Par-5 Scoring Average in Golf Betting.” Accessed August 2026.
https://www.coresportsbetting.com/par-5-scoring-average-in-golf-betting/ - GOLF.com. “Golf scoring basics: pars, birdies, bogeys.” Accessed August 2026.
https://golf.com/instruction/golf-scoring-basics-pars-birdies-bogeys/
